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Bronx Zoo Volunteers
©WCS | The Friends of the Zoo, the docent organization in the Education Department at the Bronx Zoo, invites you to join them in promoting wildlife conservation. The word docent is derived from the Latin word meaning, "to teach." Zoo Docents are special volunteers who are committed to interpreting the natural world and promoting conservation for zoo visitors. Enthusiastic adults, 18 or older, who can serve weekdays or weekends, for a minimum period of two years, are prime candidates for the program. Weekday docents serve one day per week; weekend docents serve one day every other weekend.
As part of the Education Department the docents:
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Offer guided tours of the zoo exhibits to school children in elementary grades and other organized groups.
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Work as exhibit interpreters in the Children's Zoo, Africa Plaza, Wild Asia Plaza, and Zoo Center.
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Deliver mini-talks about specific exhibits, staff Touch and Discover carts, and provide visitors with valuable information.
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Assist the Education Department with their formal environmental education programs.
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Assist at special events, and Staff the Zoo Center Information Booth.
Docents enjoy free admission to all the zoos and parks of the Wildlife Conservation Society. They receive continuing education courses on wildlife and biology, the Docent NewZ, and discounts at the WCS facilities' gift shops.
To become a Friend of the Zoo, candidates need to pass an interview and successfully complete a 6-month training course. To apply, complete the application form and return it to the Friends of the Zoo or telephone (718) 220-5141 for more information. The deadline for applications for participation in any year's program is April 1. Once your application is accepted, you will be invited to an informational session and arrangements for an interview will be made.
The Training Program
The goals of the 6-month training program are:
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to acquaint the trainee with the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Friends of Wildlife Conservation;
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to orient the trainee to the facilities and policies of the Bronx Zoo;
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to help the trainee become knowledgeable about the many animals and exhibits of the Bronx Zoo;
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to allow the trainee to feel comfortable as a member of the volunteer organization; and
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to provide the skills necessary for interacting with the visitors to the Bronx Zoo.
The staff of the Education Department and the members of the Friends of Wildlife Conservation will provide the trainee with the means to achieve these goals through:
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the opportunity to observe volunteers in action;
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documented exhibit visits;
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14 days of classes and exhibit tours led by animal department curators and keepers; and
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mentoring by experienced volunteers.
The Friends of Wildlife Conservation will provide the components of the training program - opportunities for observation, exhibit visits, classes and mentoring- according to the following schedule:
During the summer, trainees will participate in a service day schedule. With input from the trainee, the Coordinator will assign each trainee to a service day for the opportunity to observe volunteers in action and to complete the assigned exhibit visits.
All class days for both weekday and weekend trainees will be on Sundays from 9:45 am - 4:30 pm. There will be 15 class days spread out from June through December.
For further information contact the docent office at the Bronx Zoo at (718) 220-5141 or foz@wcs.org.
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